Girl grabbed by stranger while walking home from school

Gresham police seek tips on unidentified attacker

A 15-year-old girl was able to pull away from an attempted abductor Tuesday, Jan. 7, as she was walking home from Springwater Trail High School, 1440 S.E. Fleming Ave., Gresham.

Police say she was was grabbed from behind by an unknown man as she walked home from school. She pulled away, kicked the suspect and ran for help.

Police were called at 10:34 a.m. Tuesday to Gordon Russell Middle School, 3625 S.E. Powell Valley Road, where the girl had gone after the attempted abduction in the vicinity of Southeast Palmblad and Southeast Palmquist.

The high school is about a block away from where the girl described the incident to have occurred. She told police that between 9:15 to 9:45 a.m., the suspect came up behind her as she was walking home from school and grabbed her with both arms.

She described the suspect as being a man in his 40s, about 5 foot 10, with thin blond or light brown facial hair. He was wearing a brown baseball cap, a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. The girl did not know the attacker.

The Gresham Police Department is seeking any information from anybody who was in the area and who might have seen something suspicious or who believes they may have seen the suspect. Calls can be made to the Gresham Police Tips Line, 503-618-2719.